Optical sensor and method for detecting a patient condition

The invention relates generally to implantable medical devices and, in particular, to an implantable optical sensor for use in a medical device system for detecting a patient condition.

Implantable medical devices (IMDs) for monitoring a physiological condition or delivering a therapy typically include one or more physiological sensors. Physiological sensors used in conjunction with an IMD provide a signal related to a physiological condition from which a patient state or the need for a therapy can be assessed. Examples of such IMDs include heart monitors, pacemakers, implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs), myostimulators, neurological stimulators, drug delivery devices, insulin pumps, glucose monitors, etc.

Optical sensors are employed in IMDs as physiological sensors configured to detect changes in light modulation by a body fluid or tissue measurement volume due to a change in a physiological condition in the body fluid or tissue. Such optical sensors can be used, for example, for detecting changes in metabolite levels in the blood, such as oxygen saturation levels or glucose level, or changes in tissue perfusion. Monitoring such physiological conditions provides useful diagnostic measures and can be used in managing therapies for treating a medical condition. For example, a decrease in blood oxygen saturation or in tissue perfusion may be associated with insufficient cardiac output or respiratory function. Thus monitoring such signals allows an implantable medical device to respond to a decrease in oxygen saturation or tissue perfusion, for example by delivering electrical stimulation therapies to the heart to restore a normal hemodynamic function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects and features of the present invention will be appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description of the embodiments of the invention when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an illustration of one IMD configuration in which an optical sensor and associated method for determining a patient condition may be implemented.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a SubQ ICD, such as the SubQ ICD shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is a schematic diagram of a tissue perfusion sensor (TPS) according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3B is a schematic diagram of an alternative embodiment of a TPS.

FIG. 3C is a schematic diagram of a TPS including a filter in the light detecting portion.

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of a TPS according to an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a schematic diagram of a TPS includes multiple light sources.

FIG. 4C is a schematic diagram of a TPS including multiple light emitting portions.

FIG. 4D is a schematic diagram of yet another embodiment of a TPS.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart of a method for monitoring tissue perfusion according to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart of another method for monitoring tissue perfusion.

FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a tissue perfusion monitoring method for use in an ICD.

FIG. 8 is a graph of the divergence between a blue light and a red light signal used in monitoring tissue perfusion.

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Optical sensor and method for detecting a patient condition
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